So close, so far away
As I mentioned on Tuesday I'm in disaster land. It was an earthquake then. It's a hurricane today. Two in one week, for half a price.
Of course, it not really a disaster where I am (I wouldn't be able to post it otherwise). Just like the last time when all we got was a furniture swaying lightly this one is just a little rain and wind. I'm too far inland to be in any real danger. None of the forecasts predicted any real damage and there is none. The places in real danger are at the coast and there is some destruction there. The houses and hotels and piers have been pounded by waves and almost a million homes and businesses were without power. I hope it won't get much worse.
Still, just like with Polish floods I wrote about in previous years or this year tornadoes I'm not directly affected. I'm sitting safely in my home. I'm dry and warm and I have power. Besides dark clouds and a little shower every few hours the only thing that made me aware I was even close to the hurricane was the wind. It started yesterday and was pretty strong today, especially in gusts, but nothing special. I've seen stronger both here and back home. It didn't even topple any trees (several dead are near). I only know about one broken power line but that was minor - only few houses without electricity. If not for the news this would be just an normal rainy, windy day.
The warning system kept sending me messages and news kept building up this anticipation that makes people buy out all the batteries and water. I kept getting Skype calls this week from my family, first after earthquake and then today, asking if I'm all right. I almost feel like I'm disappointing them (and nature is disappointing me). We all keep expecting something more. And I keep feeling guilty for not being affected even though I know it's stupid and the less people people are affected the better. I blame it all on TV (and the internets).
I'm grateful for the warning but I keep wishing the were less skewed towards worse case scenarios. It turned out to be the best case scenario. I enjoyed the lower temperature. I like wind. The rain was not intense enough to stop me from going for a walk. And now I'm sitting home watching Doctor Who. I will check the news when it's done and there will be some more information about what did happen and what can be done to help.
But right now Let's Kill Hitler.
Of course, it not really a disaster where I am (I wouldn't be able to post it otherwise). Just like the last time when all we got was a furniture swaying lightly this one is just a little rain and wind. I'm too far inland to be in any real danger. None of the forecasts predicted any real damage and there is none. The places in real danger are at the coast and there is some destruction there. The houses and hotels and piers have been pounded by waves and almost a million homes and businesses were without power. I hope it won't get much worse.
Still, just like with Polish floods I wrote about in previous years or this year tornadoes I'm not directly affected. I'm sitting safely in my home. I'm dry and warm and I have power. Besides dark clouds and a little shower every few hours the only thing that made me aware I was even close to the hurricane was the wind. It started yesterday and was pretty strong today, especially in gusts, but nothing special. I've seen stronger both here and back home. It didn't even topple any trees (several dead are near). I only know about one broken power line but that was minor - only few houses without electricity. If not for the news this would be just an normal rainy, windy day.
The warning system kept sending me messages and news kept building up this anticipation that makes people buy out all the batteries and water. I kept getting Skype calls this week from my family, first after earthquake and then today, asking if I'm all right. I almost feel like I'm disappointing them (and nature is disappointing me). We all keep expecting something more. And I keep feeling guilty for not being affected even though I know it's stupid and the less people people are affected the better. I blame it all on TV (and the internets).
I'm grateful for the warning but I keep wishing the were less skewed towards worse case scenarios. It turned out to be the best case scenario. I enjoyed the lower temperature. I like wind. The rain was not intense enough to stop me from going for a walk. And now I'm sitting home watching Doctor Who. I will check the news when it's done and there will be some more information about what did happen and what can be done to help.
But right now Let's Kill Hitler.